What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit

"If Anyone Has an Ear, Let Him Hear" 

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:22)

In the above Scripture the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to the churches, to the redeemed of each and every age. In each age and generation, these words have challenged the churches' spiritual ear to give ear to the Voice of the Spirit of God. And because of the spiritual warfare and the intense pressures "In The Spirit" that so many of the Lord's people are experiencing, we believe that these words of the Resurrected, Ascended Lord have a special significance for us right now. Seven time in Revelation, chapters two and three, the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ solemnly charges each one of us who belong to Him: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

Seven times: "These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlestickes ..." The "seven candlesticks" are the seven churches, which represent the churches of each age and generation. The "seven stars" are the true messengers of the churches. They are those whose message proceeds out from the Throne. Thus the messenger and the message must be becoming the same (Revelation 2:1: 1:20).

Seven times: "These things saith the First and the Last, Which was dead, and is alive ..." (Revelation 2:8).

Seven times: "These things saith He Which hath the sharp sword with two edges ..." (Revelation 2:12).

Seven times: "These things saith the Son of God, Who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass ..." (Revelation 2:18).

Seven times: "These things saith He That hath the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfoldness of the Holy Spirit], and the seven stars ..." (Revelation 3:1).

Seven times: "These things saith He That is Holy, He That is True, He That hath the key of David, He That openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth ..." (Revelation 3:7).

Seven times: "These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God ..." (Revelation 3:14).

Yes! Seven times "these things saith He, "Who is the Resurrected, Ascended Lord: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. It is our Triumphant Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Who gives His own this very serious directive, and with these words we are taught how absolute and complete Is the Oneness between the workings of the Son and the workings of the Holy Spirit. For without explanation, the Lord Jesus declares that what He speaks is what the Spirit speaks. The Word of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of the Holy Spirit are he same: "These things saith He ... he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 2)